Originally Posted by
Prospero
Jumbodriver, this is fascinating and alarming. Much more interesting than my own armchair musings too. It would be great if you could elaborate.
The ILS 22L is Cat 1 only. Until May 18th.
22R/04L are completely closed so using 04R for arrivals is something they would hate to do. They'd rather risk some go arounds from 31R. The problem arises when you hold long haul aircraft for a long time and then give them an approach to a Cat 1 only runway in marginal weather.
You clearly aren't assured of a landing at JFK, So if you don't have enough fuel for another approach, followed by a diversion and still land at diversion with reserve fuel, then you have to divert straight away. It's fairly clear there was a plan B (more likely F or G) that they put into action straight after the go-around.
We have no knowledge of customs hours on the flight deck.